About

Our Homeschool Pod is a year-round program for children ranging on average from 4-7 years old in age. We have a select few children ages 3-3.5 who are independent enough to participate in the Pod or where the child is receiving help from the Pod in acclimating to school but these are the exception and not the norm. The Pod primarily takes place in a home located in Weehawken, and is led by a homeschool teacher hired by the families involved. The children have access to the living room where indoor class activities take place, as well as the dining room and kitchen where snack and lunch take place. When the children partake in outdoor play, they venture outside to the backyard or to the neighboring parks and playgrounds for adventure, nature walks and other outdoor activities.

The Daily Rhythm

The Pod follows a daily rhythm that begins with open play (including play centers), followed by Circle Time, snack time, outdoor play, lunch and finally closing circle. If weather permits, the children may take their snack outdoors so that they have more time outside. The schedule is as follows:

9-10: Open Play

10-10:30: Circle Time

10:30-11: Snack

11-12:15: Outdoor Play

12:15-1:30 Lunch

1:30-1:45: Closing Circle

On occasion and should the Pod permit, the teacher may provide extended hours from 1:45-3 PM to assist children who are in need of nap or to have a quiet hour.

Subjects Taught

We explore an array of subjects based on children’s interests and desires and depending on the natural rhythm the children are presently in. Therefore, there is not a set of subjects that are taught at the Pod. However, the most common subjects touched upon include arithmetic, reading and writing, social and emotional skills, science, planting, art and music, and physical and mental health activities such as yoga and meditation.

In addition, because of the mix of ages, certain children showing a higher interest and readiness for certain subjects may learn those subjects in a different form and time than other students. For example, all the children may be exposed to reading and writing through the reading and telling of stories through theater and song, or concepts of counting, but the teacher may also address individual desires and interests, such as children expressing a desire to learn how to spell various words. Math may be explored through the counting of the number of rocks needed to build a bridge, or through cooking. All in all, learning is explored with the child at the center and with a focus on play and imagination as the vehicle for learning.